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Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1808 - 1889

Biographical Note

Jefferson Finis Davis was born June 3, 1808 and lived until December 6, 1889. Davis was the first and only President of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War. Prior to the war, Davis was elected to the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate. During the Mexican-American War, Davis was offered a promotion to Brigadier General but he turned it down. Also prior to the Confederacy, Davis was the United States Secretary of War.

Source: American Battlefield Trust. "Jefferson Davis Biography." https://www.battlefields.org/learn/biographies/jefferson-davis. Accessed August 2, 2022.

Found in 4 Collections and/or Records:

Jefferson and Varina Anne Davis Letter

 Collection
Identifier: Ms-2022-028
Abstract

This collection contains a July 25, 1886 letter penned by Varina Anne Davis on behalf of her father, Jefferson Davis, to James H. Lane, former confederate general and former VAMC Commandant of Cadets. The letter is in response to a previous letter from Lane asking Jefferson Davis for a recommendation. This letter informs Lane that Davis' recommendation won't carry the same weight as it might have once had.

Dates: 1886

Henry L. Gray Letters

 Collection
Identifier: Ms-2001-002
Abstract

The collection includes correspondence by Henry L. Gray, written primarily between 1863 and 1865 during the American Civil War. There are also some official documents from Gray's military activities.

Dates: 1863 - 1886; Majority of material found within ( 1863-1865)

"Jeff Davis in his Wife's Clothes" Song Sheet

 Collection
Identifier: Ms-2022-040
Abstract

This collection contains a song sheet for "Jeff Davis in his Wife's Clothes," published by A. W. Auner and Wanamaker & Brown's, Clothing Store, both of Philadelphia. The song depicts a comical representation of Jefferson Davis' defeat by the Union army during the American Civil War in 1865.

Dates: c. 1865

John Taylor Wood Correspondence

 Collection
Identifier: Ms-2017-016
Abstract

The John Taylor Wood Correspondence consists of ten letters written by John Taylor Wood between April and July of 1865. Nine of the letters were written to his wife, Lola, who was living in and around Richmond at the time; the tenth item is a small note requesting that enclosed letters be forwarded to Lola. Wood was the nephew and military aide to Confederate President Jefferson Davis.

Dates: 1865